Gun Violence: A Faithful Response

September 26, 2012

On September 30 at 1 pm, the Archdiocese of Chicago's television program Sanctuary on ABC 7 will address the critical issue of gun violence in our community and the response of the faith community. Keep a lookout for several Episcopal leaders who attended and made presentations at the Stop the Violence Summit. If you'd like to learn more about how you can be involved in efforts to stop the violence, email Jack Clark or visit the CROSSwalk website.

Between January and September 2012, Chicago Police reported 2,632 weapons violations committed on the city streets, parks, schools, homes and public buildings. In the same period, 384 were killed and 1,895 were wounded.

Feature segments are:

Rev. Phil Blackwell, Senior Pastor of the historic First United Methodist Church Chicago Temple

Mark Walsh, Illinois Council Against Hand Gun Violence

Dr. Balwant Singh Hansra, Sikh Religious Society of Chicago

Barry Soskin, Gun Shop owner

The Emergency Stop the Violence Summit at historic First Baptist Congregational Church on the cities near west side, which drew religious leaders from Christian, Jewish and Islamic communities, as well as police, government and civic leaders.

The event also featured the stories of three victims of gun violence:

Terrell Marquis Bosley, murdered by gun violence at age 18, was helping friends unload drums on church grounds.

Demetrius Harris took a gunshot wound that left him paralyzed from the waist down and wheel chair bound for rest of his life. He is 23.

Pat Mitchell's Grandson, Darius Parish, died by gun violence.

Sanctuary is an in-depth documentary program on issues and ideas at the intersection of life and faith, supported by the Protestant, Orthodox, and Episcopal Churches of Greater Chicago in cooperation with ABC-TV and the interfaith Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago. This special edition on gun violence is shot entirely on location by acclaimed cameraman, director, and editor Tim Frakes with Emmy Award winning contributing producer Jackie Rivet River of Peace Productions.